Last night’s stargazing event was one for the books. We honestly expected maybe 12 to 20 people and ended up with 75! That required some creative parking reminiscent of a Tetris game, but everyone was patient, polite, and great about it.
I think we had five main telescopes, plus people who brought their own to try them out and learn from the experienced folks in the group. From handheld setups to huge scopes, including ones with screens that made viewing more accessible, there was something for everyone.
What struck me was how quiet it was. More like a library than an outdoor event. Numerous questions, with people listening and learning. Saturn was a huge hit, with people amazed that the rings appeared to run top to bottom instead of the familiar sideways view from the movies.
Visitors came from all over, including Westford. A group of homeschool kids came together, which reminded me how these recreation opportunities can become an outdoor classroom. Plenty of families enjoyed a free night out and a little adventure.
Some people didn’t realize the hot chocolate and cookies were free, too. No donation requested. Just free. We planned for 20 and brought enough for 40, so an emergency “snack run” was needed for more hot chocolate. Usually, we end up with a pile of leftover cookies that I really should not eat. This time? Three. Wow.
Bruce and his crew were jazzed by all the questions and the chance to be teachers. Some actually are teachers, BTW! “When’s the next one?” and “This is spectacular” were our payment.
There is a need for these free family events in our community. What did this one cost? Maybe $20 out of our pockets. Volunteers cut the grass, brought the telescopes, handled parking, and made it happen.
One thing I keep hearing is, “It’s challenging to find free events,” or “I wish we had a calendar of things like this.” A single community calendar, easy to submit to and easy to find on the town website, would go a long way. We don’t have a recreation department, and much of this work comes from local groups offering free or low-cost experiences that improve our quality of life. There are often three or four events a week, and in October it feels closer to nine or ten. Let’s make them easier to find.
The takeaway? A huge success. The presenters and crew are up for more, and 75 people showed there is a hunger for these events.
Did we knock this one to the moon and back? Nope. We knocked it across galaxies! Kids and families were totally engaged.
Special thanks to Bruce for rallying the telescopes and to John and his wife, Joy, for being such a force behind family-friendly events. Their untold hours of work help make Koulas Farm a beautiful place where we can offer accessible, free, amazing experiences like this.
And always Bill Vines of Conservation for allowing this and promoting educational and family enjoyment of our conservation land. We buy this land for conservation and passive recreation, and he is a leader in both these categories.